Times have got to be hard when you have to PRETEND to be a waffle house employee to get some cash!

Meet Katie Marie McCrary, of Decatur, Georgia.

35 year-old McCrary posed for the mugshot above after she posed as a Waffle House Area Manager and stole cash from the register of a local Waffle House.

The suspect inspected the restaurant and checked the restrooms, similar to what other managers would do, before allegedly helping herself to about $100 cash from the register, police said. A few minutes later, the woman left after getting into an SUV and employees called police.

But when she did, the 35-year-old was arrested, according to Officer Kim Jones.

Katie Marie McCrary, of Decatur, was charged with misdemeanor theft by taking and booked into the DeKalb County jail Wednesday morning shortly before 11 a.m., booking records show. About five hours earlier, McCrary allegedly walked into the Waffle House at 2914 Memorial Drive and pretended to be an area manager, Jones said.

Jamonte Robinson, the real manager of the restaurant, told police that just after 6 a.m., a woman dressed in a company uniform “entered the business and began acting as an area manager,” Jones said Wednesday.

The suspect inspected the restaurant and checked the restrooms, similar to what other managers would do, before allegedly helping herself to about $100 cash from the register, police said. A few minutes later, the woman left after getting into an SUV and employees called police.

Later Wednesday morning, McCrary returned to the same Waffle House and said she wanted to return the money, Jones said. This time, she was arrested.

Investigators do not believe McCrary is or was a Waffle House employee, Jones said Thursday night.

Hold up… wait! So Katie got busted over $100?? I wonder was it worth it to her?